Roundup: Texas Legislature Considering Ultrasound Bill

According to LifeNews, the Texas state legislature is considering a measure that would "allow" women to view an ultrasound prior to terminating a pregnancy: "Although the state Senate approved Senate Bill 182, to make Texas the seventeenth state to allow women to see a pre-abortion ultrasound, the bill has stalled in the House."  LifeNews doesn't mention that the introduced version of the bill required women to view an ultrasound prior to termination and required doctors to provide a description (women were allowed to avert their eyes).  "Before it passed the Senate the bill was substituted and now does not require a provider to perform an ultrasound, but does require the provider to offer the woman the option to have the ultrasound and if she also wants, to see the image and get an explanation," explains Guttmacher's Elizabeth Nash.  The bill is now headed to the House floor, but the legislature adjourns June 1, meaning there isn't much time to take action on this legislation.

Withdrawal More Effective than Previously Thought
In this month's issue of the journal Contraception, Guttmacher's Rachel Jones reports that when performed correctly, withdrawal is a more effective method of contraception than has traditionally been assumed by the reproductive and sexual health community.  (Feministe's riposte: "Oh God, was your high school boyfriend onto something?")

The best available estimates indicate that with "perfect use," 4% of couples relying on withdrawal will become pregnant within a year, compared with 2% of couples relying on the male condom. More realistic estimates suggest that with "typical use," 18% of couples relying on withdrawal will become pregnant within a year, compared with 17% of those using the male condom. In other words, with either method, more than eight in 10 avoid pregnancy.

Broadsheet's Lynn Harris talked to Heather Corinna about the study:

"Younger men have less awareness and control over ejaculation, and younger women are more fertile than older women," Scarleteen founder Heather Corinna told Broadsheet. "And if we're being really forthright, we also can safely say this is probably the most-sabotaged method by male partners. In other words, it's the one male partners will most often agree to, then not comply with, either by talking a female partner into just letting them ejaculate, or by saying they did so on accident when it wasn't at all accidental."

As to whether it's a safe and reliable method, Amelia at The Frisky writes, "If there has been "finger-pointing," it's been at women (and men) who pull and pray with random sexual partners - a pretty stupid idea, especially since it doesn't prevent STDs. I've practiced withdrawal in the past-idiotically, I might add. I came out of it unscathed, but I don't think I deserve a pat on the back for what was a stupid move. Did I just shame myself?"

Americans United for Life Planning to "Have Fun" with Supreme Court Nomination Fight
"When you have nothing to lose, you can just have fun," said Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life to the Washington Post, regarding the upcoming Supreme Court nomination fight. Yoest and other pro-lifers think they have the public on their side:

Opponents of abortion are pointing to the Gallup Poll's recent finding that 51 percent of Americans call themselves "pro-life" rather than pro-choice on the issue of abortion, the first time a majority has given that answer in the 15 years Gallup has asked the question. And they have been encouraged by the firestorm over Obama's recent speech at the University of Notre Dame, a speech in which the president -- who supports abortion rights -- called for "common ground" in the emotional debate.

Photographs of Rwandan Rape Survivors and Their Children
Thanks to Feministing for tipping me off to Jonathan Torgovnik's photographs of the children of Rwandan rape survivors -- they're in Mother Jones this month (behind a subscription wall) and also on Torgovnik's website in a series called "Intended Consequences." 


Other News to Note
May 22: WSJ: The Real Pregnancy Crisis

May 22: MedPage Today: Women Still Drinking During Pregnancy

May 22: Ancaster News: Bishop Tonnos students take pro-life message to Ottawa rally

May 21: NYTimes Blogs (The Caucus): Tracking Public Opinion on Abortion: It's Tricky

May 21: Chicago Tribune: Redefining 'pro-life'?

May 21: Nashville Post Politics Blog: Not Pro-Life, Anti-Choice

May 21: The Bulletin (Philadelphia): Pro-Life Commercial Airs Twice During ‘American Idol'

May 21: The Week: The pro-life delusion